Setouchi to Co., Ltd. Forms Capital and Business Alliance with Cregio Partners Co., Ltd.
Setouchi to Co., Ltd. and Cregio Partners Co., Ltd. have formed a capital and business alliance. This partnership aims to provide integrated support to entrepreneurs in the Setouchi area, ranging from funding to advanced financial assistance, including M&A, to revitalize the regional economy.
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- 📰 Published: May 11, 2026 at 19:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 11, 2026 at 10:31
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Setouchi to Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture; Representative Directors: Keiichiro Fujita, Kuniaki Yamada; hereinafter "Setouchi to") announces that it has concluded a capital and business alliance agreement with Cregio Partners Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture; Representative Director: Chisang Lee; hereinafter "Cregio Partners"). Through this alliance, Setouchi to will provide integrated financial support, including funding, outreach/networking through community and media, as well as capital policy and M&A assistance, to entrepreneurs in the Setouchi area.
■ Background of the Capital and Business Alliance
Setouchi to Co., Ltd. has been working to form an entrepreneur community and provide funding to seed and early-stage entrepreneurs in the Setouchi area through the operation of its video media "Setofura" and investments in startups. We have a network with diverse business entities such as startups, business successors, student entrepreneurs, and NPOs, supporting entrepreneurs' recognition and networking through the power of community and media, while also providing direct financial support as a venture capital firm.
On the other hand, as entrepreneurs, including our investees, grow their businesses to the next stage, there has been an increasing demand for more advanced financial support, such as capital policy design and M&A/capital and business alliances. In the current startup ecosystem, M&A is gaining importance not only as an exit strategy but also as a strategic means to strengthen business foundations for IPOs and achieve non-continuous growth. Given these environmental changes, we believed that collaboration with a partner who could provide specialized knowledge in M&A and capital policy to entrepreneurs was indispensable.
Cregio Partners operates an M&A advisory business based in the Chugoku and Shikoku regions, and in recent years, has focused on M&A and capital policy support for startups. They have a system capable of responding to the unique financial needs of startups, including M&A as an exit, utilizing M&A as part of an IPO strategy, and designing capital policies according to growth phases.
Against this backdrop, by combining Cregio Partners' specialized knowledge in M&A and capital policy with Setouchi to's expertise in entrepreneur community, media, and investment activities, we believe we can provide more consistent and effective support to entrepreneurs in the Setouchi area, from funding to growth-phase financial assistance, leading to this alliance.
■ Comments
Chisang Lee
Representative Director CCO, Cregio Partners Co., Ltd.
As an independent venture capital firm rooted in the Setouchi region, Setouchi to supports young entrepreneurs, creates a startup ecosystem, and generates new industries from the region. I was deeply impressed by the sincere attitude of the two representatives in pursuing this. We aim to work together to create an environment where ambitious entrepreneurs from the Setouchi area can take flight one after another.
Keiichiro Fujita
Setouchi Startups GP
I have had exchanges with Cregio Partners for many years, and I am very happy and deeply moved to be able to work together at this time. We feel very reassured to have them complement our shortcomings as investors (!!) in supporting flexible capital policies and exit strategies tailored to market conditions! With a powerful new ally joining Setouchi to, our second chapter begins!
Kuniaki Yamada
Setouchi Startups GP
"Are you selling off your company?"
In the region, there is still a tendency to refer to M&A in this way, with a mocking tone. However, integrating businesses with the right company in the optimal way is not only beneficial for both parties but also contributes to the interests of the region, and by extension, all of Japan, in terms of resource optimization. We started by engaging with startups, but now we have various corporate entities around us. I often think about how many more forms we could create. In such circumstances, we resonated with Mr. Lee and Cregio Partners, who treat all entrepreneurs, business owners, and successors with respect and sincerity, leading to the formation of this framework. Initiatives to maximize the potential of Setouchi, not limited to IPOs, are now beginning. This is Setouchi to's second chapter.
■ Future Outlook
Both companies aim to build an environment in the Setouchi area where entrepreneurs can access the necessary support at each growth phase. During the startup and growth phases, they will seamlessly provide recognition and networking through community and media, and during the growth and expansion phases, they will offer financial support including capital policy and M&A, leveraging their respective strengths.
■ Company Overview
Company Name: Setouchi to Co., Ltd.
■ Background of the Capital and Business Alliance
Setouchi to Co., Ltd. has been working to form an entrepreneur community and provide funding to seed and early-stage entrepreneurs in the Setouchi area through the operation of its video media "Setofura" and investments in startups. We have a network with diverse business entities such as startups, business successors, student entrepreneurs, and NPOs, supporting entrepreneurs' recognition and networking through the power of community and media, while also providing direct financial support as a venture capital firm.
On the other hand, as entrepreneurs, including our investees, grow their businesses to the next stage, there has been an increasing demand for more advanced financial support, such as capital policy design and M&A/capital and business alliances. In the current startup ecosystem, M&A is gaining importance not only as an exit strategy but also as a strategic means to strengthen business foundations for IPOs and achieve non-continuous growth. Given these environmental changes, we believed that collaboration with a partner who could provide specialized knowledge in M&A and capital policy to entrepreneurs was indispensable.
Cregio Partners operates an M&A advisory business based in the Chugoku and Shikoku regions, and in recent years, has focused on M&A and capital policy support for startups. They have a system capable of responding to the unique financial needs of startups, including M&A as an exit, utilizing M&A as part of an IPO strategy, and designing capital policies according to growth phases.
Against this backdrop, by combining Cregio Partners' specialized knowledge in M&A and capital policy with Setouchi to's expertise in entrepreneur community, media, and investment activities, we believe we can provide more consistent and effective support to entrepreneurs in the Setouchi area, from funding to growth-phase financial assistance, leading to this alliance.
■ Comments
Chisang Lee
Representative Director CCO, Cregio Partners Co., Ltd.
As an independent venture capital firm rooted in the Setouchi region, Setouchi to supports young entrepreneurs, creates a startup ecosystem, and generates new industries from the region. I was deeply impressed by the sincere attitude of the two representatives in pursuing this. We aim to work together to create an environment where ambitious entrepreneurs from the Setouchi area can take flight one after another.
Keiichiro Fujita
Setouchi Startups GP
I have had exchanges with Cregio Partners for many years, and I am very happy and deeply moved to be able to work together at this time. We feel very reassured to have them complement our shortcomings as investors (!!) in supporting flexible capital policies and exit strategies tailored to market conditions! With a powerful new ally joining Setouchi to, our second chapter begins!
Kuniaki Yamada
Setouchi Startups GP
"Are you selling off your company?"
In the region, there is still a tendency to refer to M&A in this way, with a mocking tone. However, integrating businesses with the right company in the optimal way is not only beneficial for both parties but also contributes to the interests of the region, and by extension, all of Japan, in terms of resource optimization. We started by engaging with startups, but now we have various corporate entities around us. I often think about how many more forms we could create. In such circumstances, we resonated with Mr. Lee and Cregio Partners, who treat all entrepreneurs, business owners, and successors with respect and sincerity, leading to the formation of this framework. Initiatives to maximize the potential of Setouchi, not limited to IPOs, are now beginning. This is Setouchi to's second chapter.
■ Future Outlook
Both companies aim to build an environment in the Setouchi area where entrepreneurs can access the necessary support at each growth phase. During the startup and growth phases, they will seamlessly provide recognition and networking through community and media, and during the growth and expansion phases, they will offer financial support including capital policy and M&A, leveraging their respective strengths.
■ Company Overview
Company Name: Setouchi to Co., Ltd.